Introduction

Lawrence, New York is a village on the south shore of Long Island about 20 miles east of Manhattan and makes up one-fifth of the area known as the Five Towns. For the past few decades Lawrence and the rest of the Five Towns have seen a large increase in the Orthodox Jewish community. There are many aspects to the Five Towns that attract this ever growing community. First off, there are an abundance of synagogues for each family to choose from and plethora of strictly kosher grocery stores, butchers, bakeries and restaurants to enjoy. There are also a number of Orthodox private schools for children to attend. With so many advantages to a Religious Orthodox family it is no surprise that the community is growing at such a high rate. This influx of Jews carries with it many effects on the neighborhood. The religious principles of Orthodox Jews has raised real estate prices and in turn reduced diversity in Lawrence.